Do You Experience Alexithymia? Here's How To Find Out...

As we all know, autism runs on a very wide-ranging spectrum... and with that comes a lot of stereotypes. One stereotype commonly associated with autism is a 'lack of empathy' -- however, research shows that alexithymia actually causes that 'lack of empathy' -- not the autism itself.

According to Embrace Autism, alexithymia is a "personality construct characterized by the (subclinical) inability to identify and describe emotions in the self. In a broad sense, it denotes emotion processing problems."

And while it's not officially recognized by the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it's still a condition that's diagnosed by a mental health professional.

Someone with alexithymia might experience the following feelings:

  • anger
  • confusion
  • difficulty "reading faces"
  • discomfort
  • emptiness
  • increased heart rate
  • lack of affection
  • panic

Click HERE to take the Toronto Alexithymia Scale test for yourself!

And visit Embrace Autism to learn more about alexithymia.


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